Environment

USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon, Michigan will be presenting a series of films titled, Great Lakes Film Series: Storms, Shipwrecks, Rescues and History.

This series of four films will be presented on Wednesdays in July at 11:00am and then again at 2:30pm, beginning Wednesday, July 8, 2015, with Ric Mixter as creator and producer of the series of intriguing Great Lakes documentaries. He produced the outstanding video “Storm.” Below is the schedule for the series:

July 8: Cutter Rescues: Video and interviews of Coast Guard Members and crews rescued during perilous storms.

July 15: Edmund Fitzgerald: History and video of the birth and then the death of this ship on November 10, 2010 on the Great Lakes.

July 22: Bombs Away: A documentary about the closure of Selfridge Air Base and the departure of the bombers is shown and narrated.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.— A ‘Battle of the Buildings’ is underway in West Michigan, and the winner gets to keep more of their money.

The U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan says more than 14 Grand Rapids area businesses have signed up for the competition to reduce energy usage. Participants include Steelcase and Spectrum Health, JSJ Corporation in Grand Haven; Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Steelcase in Kentwood; The Grand Rapids Art Museum; Kent Intermediate School District; Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park; Aquinas College; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo; the Muskegon County Hall of Justice and Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced the award of 20 grant projects totaling more than $4 million, under the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.

The grant program is central to Michigan’s new invasive species initiative, which brings a multi-department, comprehensive approach to the ongoing problem of harmful, non-native invaders such as the Asian carp. The initiative enlists the expertise of the state departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams encouraged the state's fruit growers to complete the 2014 Fruit Acreage Inventory being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Registration is officially open for Michigan commercial and industrial buildings of all sizes interested in joining the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan's (USGBCWM) second annual Battle of the Buildings competition. The statewide competition is an expansion of the Battle of the Buildings that started in West Michigan last year.

Battle of the Buildings is an awards and recognition program for energy use reduction. The competition is a way to encourage energy-efficient practices in buildings across the state of Michigan and to instill a spirit of friendly competition among the area’s building owners and operators. Steelcase, Western Michigan University and Nichols have already committed for the 2015 competition totaling over 3,000,000 sq. feet.

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division are sharing their top tips to stay safe in this extreme cold.

"As we saw last winter, these arctic blasts can create hazardous situations," said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. "Citizens are encouraged to monitor local weather reports and follow the appropriate steps to stay safe during these extremely cold and potentially life-threatening temperatures."

Exposure to these subzero temperatures could potentially cause frostbite and hypothermia, as well as create hazardous driving conditions.

Many municipalities are offering free tree recycling services to residents with a natural tree. Some communities are planning to put the trees through a chipper and use the remnants to cover park trails and other green spaces. Here is the schedule for live tree drop-offs:

Ada Township (Through Jan. 12)

Ada Township Park, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Alpine Township (Through Jan. 31)

Behind Township Hall, 5255 Alpine Ave. NW

Cannon Township (Through Jan. 10)

West side of the township building; RHS Honor Society will help unload trees Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (donations encouraged)